Peter Magel

PETER MAGEL.

Peter Magel has since 1905 been a 'resident of Burlington, previous to which time he made his home upon a farm in this county. While he is now in a considerable measure living retired, he still gives supervision to his agricultural interests, and in addition to his Des Moines county property has extensive landed interests in Kansas. He has likewise been president of the Continental Brick Company, of Aledo, Illinois, for five years. He was born in Union township, near Rock Springs, this county, February 15, 1849, a son of Seibert and Mary (Licht) Magel, who were natives of Germany, the former born January 5, 1812, and the latter April 24, 1821. They came to Des Moines county in the fall of 1835, making the voyage to America on the same ship. The mother was a daughter of Conrad and Catharine Licht, who brought their family to the new world and established their home in Des Moines county, where they remained until called to their final rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Magel were married in this county about a year after their arrival, and their remaining days were spent upon a farm southwest of Burlington. The mother's death occurred December 6, 1896, and the father passed away August 9, 1897. He had been blind for a quarter of a century before his demise. When he arrived in this country he was the possessor of a capital of two hundred dollars. He immediately sought employment, and his first work was on a dam at Augusta. After being employed as a day laborer for a few months he began farming with Conrad Pheifif, and later they together purchased a cow. They farmer together as neighbors, but after a time that property was disposed of and Mr. Magel bought a farm southwest of Burlington, upon which he continued to make his home until called to his final rest. As opportunity offered, however, he added to his property holdings until at one time he was the owner of three farms, but prior to his demise he divided his property among his children. As the years passed he

HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY ii'J won a substantial measure of prosperity and he was always a generous contributor to movements and measures for the public good. He assisted in building two churches and gave liberally to the Burlington Hospital, and at his death he left to that institution the sum of one thousand dollars. He held membership in the German Lutheran church and the organization found in him a generous supporter, who was also ever ready to give freely to all benevolent and other worthy causes. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born eighteen children, of whom ten reached adult age, namely: Elizabeth, now deceased, the wife of William Hillgartner; William, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Henry, of Burlington; Charles, who is living in Fremont county; Conrad, whose home is in Idaho; Peter; Mary, the widow of Julius Schafer, of this city; Margaret, who married Henry Steyh, of Burlington; Theodore, who died in Fremont county; and Benjamin, also of Burlington.

Peter Magel remained with his parents up to the time of his marriage, and in his youth acquired a public-school education. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, renting land from his father, and subsequently he purchased a part of the old home place, upon which he erected a comfortable dwelling, and from time to time he made further improvements until he had one of the best farms of the county, which he occupied until his removal to the city in 1905. He still owns his old home place and his father's old homestead, one comprising one hundred and forty-eight acres of land and the other one hundred and forty-four acres. The entire amount is improved, save twenty-five acres, which is in timber. Mr. Magel goes back and forth to the farm to a large extent and gives to the place his personal supervision. When actively engaged in farming he employed the most progressive methods; brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and made his farm a very productive one, so that the annual sale of his crops brought to him a most substantial revenue. In addition to his Iowa property he owned five hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He also has other business interests, having for five years been president of the Continental Brick Company, of Aledo, Illinois, which is one of the profitable enterprises of that place.

On the T(;th of January, 1879, Mr. Magel was married to Miss Alice E. Blakeway, who was born in Augusta township, Des Moines county, July 30, 1859, a daughter of John C. and Priscilla F. (Bashore) Blakeway, who were natives of Wheeling, West Virginia, and accompanied their parents to the middle west in childhood. The father was seventeen years of age at the time of the removal. The mother lived for a time in Missouri. In 1849 Mr. Blakevvay went to California, spending two years, and with that exception has continuously resided in this county since his marriage. Both he and his wife passed away in Union township, the former February 19, 1904, at the age of seventy-six years, and the latter on the 22d of January, 1902. They had twelve children, of whom three died in infancy. Those, besides Mrs. Magel, who reached adult age were: William D., of California; Elizabeth, the wife of George Vaughn, of Burlington; Margaret, the deceased wife of Stephen Courtwright; Edward, a farmer of Fairfield; Thomas U., living in Kansas; Carson J., of Augusta township; Frank B., of Burlington; and Mrs. Hattie J. Boland, of Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Magel have two sons. George Seibert, the elder, occupies his grandfather's homestead. He married Miss Emma Grothe, who died leaving one child, Kenneth Howard, and since losing his first wife he has married Mamie Lyman. John Clarence, the younger son, resides upon his father's farm. He married Miss Rosa Ihrer and they have a daughter, Frances Louise.

Mr. Magel is a democrat, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to devote his attention to his business affairs. He served, however, as school treasurer for fifteen years, occupying that position until his removal to the city. He and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and have guided their lives by its teachings. He has a wide acquaintance in this county, where he has always lived, and the number of his friends indicates that his life has been at all times an honorable and upright one.

As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.